Friday, November 30, 2012

December
1 is World AIDS Day, a time when we pause to reflect on the ways in which the
HIV pandemic has changed our world, when we celebrate the exciting progress made
in the fight against HIV, while mourning the multitude of lives it has
claimed.

Many
challenges remain but this year we have good reason to be optimistic. Last week
UNAIDS reported that Africa has cut AIDS-related deaths by one third. And in the
last two years the number of people receiving lifesaving antiretroviral
medication has increased by more than 60%, to 8 million. However, there are
still 7 million people in need of medicine who can’t get it. And in some parts
of the world the epidemic is growing...

This
is a key moment in the fight against HIV. With each passing day comes hope that more people will have access to
lifesaving medication; that ongoing research will someday lead to
a vaccine or cure; that fear, ignorance and stigma will be replaced by love and
understanding. Today, let’s challenge ourselves to think about the important
role we can each play in what may be the defining challenge of our age. Someday
our grandchildren may ask, “What did you do?” Let’s make sure we have a good
answer for them.